COMMITTEE OF THE CENTRE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS: WEDNESDAY 8 NOVEMBER 2000
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
1. Apologies
2. Chairperson's Business
3. Approval of Draft Minutes of Previous Proceedings
4. Matters arising
5. Correspondence
6. Evidence session with the OFMDFM Junior Ministers
7. Committee's response on the allocation of the draft OFMDFM budget
8. Committee's response on the specific aspects of the draft Programme for Government within the Terms of Reference of the Committee
9. Draft Work Programme
10. Any Other Business
11. Date and Time of Next Meeting
Present: Mr Edwin Poots MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Oliver Gibson MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Roy Beggs Jnr MLA
Mrs Eileen Bell MLA
Dr Esmond Birnie MLA
Mr David Ervine MLA
Ms Michelle Gildernew MLA
Ms Patricia Lewsley MLA
Mr Conor Murphy MLA
Mr Jim Shannon MLA
In Attendance: Dr Andrew C Peoples (Committee Clerk)
Mrs Gillian Lewis
Mr Damien McVeigh
Ms Laurie Roberts
Apologies: Mr P J Bradley MLA
Mr James Leslie MLA
Mr Alex Maskey MLA
Dr Alasdair McDonnell MLA
Mr Eugene McMenamin MLA
Mr Ken Robinson MLA
Meeting opened at 2:41pm in closed session.
1. Apologies
The apologies are listed above.
2. Chairperson's Business
The Chairperson briefed members on the meetings he had attended over the Halloween recess and presented a short summary paper of the meetings. Dr Birnie commended the Chairperson for the work on behalf of the Committee and the written record.
2.42pm Mr Beggs left the meeting.
2.43pm Mr Beggs rejoined the meeting.
3. Approval of draft minutes of previous proceedings
The minutes were agreed and signed.
4. Matters Arising
None.
5. Correspondence
The Committee considered the request from the Junior Ministers to consult on the Equality Impact Assessment of the draft Programme for Government. The Committee agreed that it should make a response and that it should question the Junior Ministers on its equality aspects at today's meeting.
The Committee noted two items of correspondence from the Department of Finance & Personnel on the Equality Impact of the 2001/02 Budget. Members asked their views on insufficient and poor distribution of venues along with some inappropriate times be referred to the Finance and Personnel Committee. The Committee agreed that it should not get involved in a matter within the remit of another Committee and should formally pass the correspondence to the Finance & Personnel Committee. Action: Clerk.
The Committee noted a letter from the Chief Executive of the Equality Commission setting out the bid made against next year's budget proposals. The Committee agreed that it should raise its concerns with the Junior Ministers at today's meeting.
3.00pm Mr Murphy left the meeting.
3:05pm PUBLIC SESSION
6. Evidence session with the OFMDFM Junior Ministers
Evidence on the allocation of the draft OFMDFM Budget and the specific areas of the draft Programme for Government which fall within the Terms of Reference of the Committee of the Centre was taken from the Junior Ministers, Mr Denis Haughey MLA and Mr Dermot Nesbitt MLA.
3:28pm Mr Ervine left the meeting.
3:30pm Mr Ervine rejoined the meeting.
3:47pm Ms Gildernew left the meeting.
3:51pm Ms Gildernew rejoined the meeting.
4:04pm Mr Ervine left the meeting.
4:10pm Dr Birnie left the meeting.
4:18pm Mr Ervine rejoined the meeting.
4.30pm Mr Ervine left the meeting.
4.32pm Mr Gibson left the meeting.
4:35pm Ms Lewsley left the meeting.
7. Committee's response on the allocation of the draft OFMDFM budget.
The Committee debated its response on the allocation of the draft OFMDFM budget and agreed that it should prioritise their concerns as listed below:
1. Victims Issues
2. Modernising Government
3. Equality Commission and Equality Research Issues
4. European Affairs and International Matters
The Committee agreed that the Chairperson should take forward the Committee's views in order to meet the deadlines.
8. Committee's response on the specific aspects of the draft Programme for Government within the Terms of Reference of the Committee
The Committee agreed to debate this further at the next meeting.
9. Draft Work Programme
The Committee agreed the work programme up to Christmas and asked the Clerk to take forward the necessary arrangements on behalf of the Committee. Action: Clerk.
10. Any other business
None.
11. Date and time of next meeting
It was agreed that the Committee would next meet on Wednesday, 15th November at 2:30pm in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4:41pm.
Mr Edwin Poots MLA
Chairperson, Committee of the Centre
15 November 2000
18 October 2000 / Menu / 8 November 2000